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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-15 BOSPacket-releasedHearing Assistance Devices Available on Request All agenda times and the order of items are approximate and subject to change. SELECTMEN’S MEETING Monday, December 15, 2014 Selectmen Meeting Room 7:00 p.m. AGENDA 7:00 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS (10 min.) Public comments are allowed for up to 10 minutes at the beginning of each meeting. Each speaker is limited to 3 minutes for comment. Members of the Board will neither comment nor respond, other than to ask questions of clarification. Speakers are encouraged to notify the Selectmen's Office at 781-698-4580 if they wish to speak during public comment to assist the Chairman in managing meeting times. 7:10 p.m. SELECTMEN CONCERNS AND LIAISON REPORTS (5 min.) 7:15 p.m. TOWN MANAGER REPORT (5 min.) 7:20 p.m. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION 1. Liquor Hearing – Via Lago – Alteration of Premises (5 min.) 2. Budget Presentations (30 min.) a. Town Clerk/Information Technology b. Finance c. Shared Expenses 3. Proposed Departmental Reorganization for Incorporating Community Center Programs (20 min.) 4. Sidewalk Requests (30 min.) a. Pleasant Street b. Prospect Hill Road 5. Approve Renewal of Lexington Venue Theatre Licenses (5 min.) 6. License Renewals (5 min.) 7. Selectmen Committee Appointments (5 min.) a. Economic Development Advisory Committee – appointment b. Historic Districts Commission - appointment c. Town Report Committee - resignation 9:00 p.m. CONSENT AGENDA (5 min.) 1. Water and Sewer Commitments and Adjustments 2. Approve Signs on Bikeway for Winter Plowing 3. Use of Battle Green – Revolutionary Revelry – Fife & Drum 9:05 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION (20 min.) 1. Exemption 6: Consider the Purchase, Exchange, Lease or Value of Real Property - Town-owned Adams School (Waldorf School) Site 9:25 p.m. ADJOURN The next regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen is scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue. AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY LEXINGTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING DATE: 12/15/14 PRESENTER: Joe Pato ITEM NUMBER: I.1 SUBJECT: Liquor License – Alteration of Premises – Via Lago, 1845 Massachusetts Avenue EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The current description on the Via Lago liquor license needs to be updated to include the new spaces he has added (behind Fancy Flea Antiques and the old Verizon space on the other side. I have received all the necessary paperwork to request your approval of an alteration of premises for Via Lago, Inc., d/b/a Via Lago, located at 1845 Massachusetts Avenue. Mr. Fenn, Attorney for Via Lago, will be at your meeting to answer any questions. The current manager, Alan Jick, may also be there. See attached information. FINANCIAL IMPACT: RECOMMENDATION / SUGGESTED MOTION: Motion to approve the application for the alteration of the premises for the all alcohol restaurant liquor license for Via Lago, Inc., d/b/a Via Lago, located at 1845 Massachusetts Avenue. STAFF FOLLOW-UP: Selectmen’s Office AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY LEXINGTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING DATE: 12/15/14 PRESENTER: Joe Pato ITEM NUMBER: I.4 SUBJECT: Sidewalk Requests a. Pleasant Street b. Prospect Hill Road EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Pleasant Street – Laurel Carpenter requested time on the Board’s agenda to discuss getting a feasibility study done for adding a new sidewalk on Pleasant Street. Ms. Carpenter met with the Sidewalk Committee on December 1. See attached information. Prospect Hill Road – Sarah McSweeney requested time on the Board’s agenda to discuss a warrant article for the 2015 Annual Town Meeting for a new sidewalk installation on Prospect Hill Road. See attached information Also attached are the current guidelines for requesting new sidewalks. See attached information. FINANCIAL IMPACT: RECOMMENDATION / SUGGESTED MOTION: STAFF FOLLOW-UP: Selectmen’s Office *Data from Town of Lexington website, collected at Pleasant Street at Mass Ave in 2009    Pleasant Street Sidewalk Petition  Presentation to Board of Selectmen  Monday, December 15, 2014    Existing Street Character and Usage Pleasant Street runs between Mass Avenue and Concord Avenue with access to Route 2. Approximately one mile long with existing sidewalk in sections along half the length Arterial classification, includes a segment of state route 225 (regular use by large trucks) Average annual daily traffic of 13,850 vehicles; 1385/hr. over 10 hr. peak, 23 per minute* Multimodal Transportation: pedestrians, bicycles, LexExpress Routes 1 &2, MBTA bus routes A neighborhood street Residential single family Schools: within pedestrian zone for Bowman, Waldorf and Montessori schools Churches Wilson Farm Sidewalk Details Existing sidewalk segments lack connections. Sections without sidewalk are very narrow with limited shoulders. No shoulder in winter—pedestrians must walk in travel lane. Pedestrians use the segments of Pleasant Street without sidewalk every day [worn paths show high use] Outreach to Date  Signed support by all direct abutters on both sides of street along non-sidewalk segments (areas where sidewalk is requested) [15 households]  50+ additional signed supporters from broader neighborhoods  Communicated with Precinct 2 Town Meeting representatives  Presented information at Bowman School PTA meeting  Met with Jim Wilson of Wilson Farms  Talked with local church parishioners The most common sentiment among supporters was “long overdue”. Other comments included “a safety issue”; “very important to public health”; “protect our children” ; “very dangerous street” ; “impossible in winter” ; “this is gating my family’s ability to walk to Bowman School”; “desperately needed”; “please help”. Ready to Move Forward On 12/1/2014, the Sidewalk Committee reviewed this sidewalk request and recommended the petition move forward to the Board of Selectmen for the next step. We are now asking for a cost estimate for an engineering feasibility study of sidewalk connections on Pleasant Street. Our goal is to develop an article for the feasibility study for the town warrant for the Spring 2015 Annual Town Meeting. Petition Organizer: Laurel Carpenter, 94 Pleasant Street, lcarp@rcn.com 781-862-4027 Wilson Farm BowmanPark BowmanElementarySchool Pleasant¬«2 Ma s s . A v e WaldorfSchool SacredHeartChurch Requested Sidewalk Connection 0 1,000 Feet Data Source:ESRI, MassGIS Map created byEliott Rousseau Bus Stop (#76)WatertownStreet Montessori School Legend¯ ExistingSidewalk Areas ofPedestrianActivity Pine KnollNursingStreet 68-142 Selectmen’s Meeting – June 30, 2014 Update on Bedford Street/Hartwell Avenue Island Landscaping Mr. Pinsonneault, Manager of Public Works Operations; Ms. Tintocalis, Economic Development Director; and Ms. Dutcher, GroundView Design presented the plans for the Bedford Street/Hartwell Avenue Island Landscape project that has been coordinated with MassDOT. The plan creates a gateway to the Harwell Avenue Corridor with distinctive landscaping. Installation will be done in the fall and the contractor will care for the islands for the first year to get the plants established and then the islands will be maintained as a meadow area on a yearly basis by the Town. The plantings will be salt and drought resistant because there will be no irrigation system. MassDOT has approved the plans for the placement of the plants and the plans for snow removal on the islands. Asked about the importance of public safety for pedestrians and people taking public transportation, Mr. Pinsonneault stated that Engineering and Stantec had a meeting scheduled with MassDOT next week to review options for making it safe for pedestrians and public transportation residents to cross the street and that they will bring back possible options to the Selectmen at a near future meeting. In addition, the Town will be putting a cement pad along Bedford Street near the Beth Israel building and they will be installing a bus shelter. Mr. Kanter, Capital Expenditures Committee, Precinct 7, asked that Public Works keep track of the effort of public works staff and the contractor. He also asked about funding for a new signal system at the Bedford Street/Hartwell Avenue intersection. Mr. Valente stated it was a state road and would be funded by MassDOT. Depending on if the project was major or minor will decide the process that has to be followed. Mr. Pato reminded the residents that a letter was sent asking for help with getting a crosswalk and Lexington’s Representative and Senators have indicated their support for the initiative. Update from TSAC on Prospect Hill Road Sidewalk Ms. Mauger noted that the Selectmen still need to bring back the neighborhood as requested to discuss the sidewalk. Mr. Cannon, Assistant Engineer, stated that a traffic evaluation of the Prospect Hill Road area will be folded into a School Department Study that includes looking at traffic and pedestrian safety at Clarke and Bowman schools. Engineering has hired a surveyor to do a topographic survey starting north of Outlook Drive along Prospect Hill Road past the Wachusett Drive circle down to Marrett Road and across Marrett Road and end on the southerly side of Marrett Road to define property lines and find the Town’s right-of-way. When the survey is complete, Engineering will design sidewalks for both sides of the street and then decide which side of the street is most feasible for a sidewalk. The survey is currently scheduled to occur in the next couple of weeks. The next step would be a feasibility study. Resident Guidelines for Requesting New Sidewalks The Lexington Sidewalk Committee offers the following guidelines to help interested citizens successfully engage in the process of requesting new sidewalks. Other venues for new sidewalk construction do exist, but they generally involve external funding where the entire project is handled through Town engineering. In either case, this is a lengthy process that can take several years and requires input from numerous town boards and committees. At any point along the process, the petitioners may drop their request for a sidewalk or the project may lose the support of committees, abutters, and Town Meeting. 1. Download a copy of the New Sidewalk Request Form from the Town Website or pick up a copy at the Selectmen’s office. Contact the Sidewalk Committee at lexsidewalkcom@gmail.com to set up a meeting with the Sidewalk Committee for a preliminary discussion. At this first meeting, only a few proponents need be present to outline the request. If the project seems feasible, the Committee will work with residents and town departments to initiate the process and will also be a point of contact for the residents. 2. Obtain signatures from as many neighbors in the area as possible. The petition should focus on pedestrian activity in the area, vehicular traffic, and potential connectivity to existing sidewalks and footpaths. Proponents should try to contact all the abutters to the proposed sidewalk as well as people in the wider neighborhood who might use the proposed sidewalk. (The side of the road chosen for the sidewalk should be deferred because this will depend on engineering analysis later in the process.) If the residents cannot get enough support from the neighbors and schools in the area, the proposal should be dropped until enough support can be gathered. 3. Request a second meeting with the Sidewalk Committee to discuss the request in more detail. Abutters for and against the project should try to attend the meeting. Proponents should bring a map of the proposed project area if available. This presentation will be a prelude for a similar presentation to be given at a Selectmen’s meeting soon thereafter. At that time, the Selectmen will ask for the opinion of the Sidewalk Committee and then decide whether the project is to move forward. 4. Stay in contact with the Sidewalk Committee. The Sidewalk Committee will follow the process and will keep the petition organizers informed of the status of the request. 5. Be prepared to address Town Meeting. If the request for funding a feasibility study is brought forward at Town Meeting, someone representing the neighbors requesting the sidewalk should be prepared to speak at Town Meeting to explain the importance of having a sidewalk installed. If the funds are not approved, the proposal will not move forward. 6. Await completion of the study. The Engineering Division will coordinate the feasibility study and develop a cost projection for the project. Once the study is complete and a cost estimate is assigned to the project, it will be up to the Selectmen and Town Meeting to determine if the project is financially feasible. 7. Continue to gather neighborhood support. The petitioners should meet again with the Selectmen in order to gather and demonstrate public support for the project. It may also be necessary to again address Town Meeting to gain their support. 8. Anticipate funding. If Town Meeting approves funding for the design and construction of the sidewalk project, the project will be designed, bid out and scheduled for installation. AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY LEXINGTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING DATE: 12/15/14 PRESENTER: Joe Pato ITEM NUMBER: I.5 SUBJECT: Approve Theatre License Renewals – Lexington Venue EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Lexington Theatre Project, Inc. d/b/a Lexington Venue, has submitted an application to renew their two theatre licenses for weekdays and Sundays. Their current licenses expired September 1, 2014. Fire inspection is scheduled for 12/18/14. FINANCIAL IMPACT: RECOMMENDATION / SUGGESTED MOTION: Motion to approve the application and issue two theatre licenses to Lexington Theatre Project, Inc., d/b/a Lexington Venue, located at 1794 Mass. Avenue, for Cinema 1 and 2 to show movies weekdays and Sundays, subject to a completed and approved fire inspection. STAFF FOLLOW-UP: Selectmen’s Office AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY LEXINGTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING DATE: 12/15/14 PRESENTER: Joe Pato ITEM NUMBER: I.6 SUBJECT: Approve License Renewals EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Attached is a list of license renewals ready for your approval. The list indicates if we are waiting for something. I ask that you approve and sign all the licenses for all the establishments and we will make sure all the necessary paperwork is received before we mail out the licenses before the end of December. If you have any questions on the licensing, let me know before the meeting. FINANCIAL IMPACT: RECOMMENDATION / SUGGESTED MOTION: Motion to approve the license renewals for 2015 as presented, subject to receiving all necessary information. STAFF FOLLOW-UP: Selectmen’s Office Licenses Renewals for 2015 Class 2 Cheng Auto Sales complete 70 School Street King's Auto complete 66 Emerson Gardens Road Coin Lexington Post 3007 VFW missing $20 fee 2 Hayes Lane pool table Common Carrier Joseph's Transportation, Inc.waiting for Liberty Ride vehicle inspection by Bill Ahearn 44 James Street BU19726 - BUS 280 -Liberty M&L Transit Systems, Inc.waiting for Police Inspection 60 Olympia Avenue BU21024 - Bus 161 M&L Transit Systems, Inc.waiting for Police Inspection 60 Olympia Avenue BU10260 - Bus 160 M&L Transit Systems, Inc.waiting for Police Inspection 60 Olympia Avenue BU36762 - Bus 162 M&L Transit Systems, Inc.waiting for Police Inspection 60 Olympia Avenue BU36763- Bus 163 Friday, December 12, 2014 Page 1 of 3 Common Victualler Bollywood Café complete 135 Mass. Avenue Dunkin Donuts complete 373 Waltham Street Knights of Columbus missing all 177 Bedford Street Lexington Golf Club complete 55 Hill Street Lexington House of Pizza WC policy expires 12/17, he will provide new policy 399 Lowell Street Lexx Restaurant complete 1666 Mass. Avenue Orange Leaf complete 1726 Mass. Avenue Peet's Coffee & Tea complete 1749 Mass. Avenue Prime Roast Beef & Seafood missing all 321 Marrett Road TV Rancatore Ice Cream complete 1752 Mass. Avenue Entertainment Bollywood Café complete 135 Mass. Avenue Lexx Restaurant complete 1666 Mass. Avenue Prime Roast Beef & Seafood missing all 321 Marrett Road Friday, December 12, 2014 Page 2 of 3 Liquor Club Lexington Post 3007 VFW waiting for alcohol awareness training card 2 Hayes Lane Liquor Common Victualler Lemon Grass Restaurant complete 1710 Mass. Avenue Waxy O'Connor's pending Certificate of Inspection 94 Hartwell Avenue Friday, December 12, 2014 Page 3 of 3 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY LEXINGTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING DATE: 12/15/14 PRESENTER: Joe Pato ITEM NUMBER: I.7 SUBJECT: Selectmen Committees: a. Economic Development Advisory Committee – appointment b. Historic Districts Commission – appointment c. Town Report Committee - resignation EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Economic Development Advisory Committee has requested that Lelani Foster be appointed. Joe Welch’s has completed his 2-term limit as a member of the Historic Districts Commission, as the Library Representative. Attached is a letter from the Library with their two nominations. Phyllis Strimling has resigned from the Town Report Committee. See attached information. FINANCIAL IMPACT: RECOMMENDATION / SUGGESTED MOTION: Motion to appoint Lelani Foster to the Economic Development Advisory Committee for a term to expire September 30, 2017. Motion to appoint Ian Adamson to the Historic Districts Commission as a full member for a term to expire December 31, 2019. Motion to accept the resignation of Phyllis Strimling from the Town Report Committee, effective immediately. STAFF FOLLOW-UP: Selectmen’s Office July 14, 2014 Norman Cohen Library Trustees Cary Memorial Library 1874 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA 02421 Dear Mr. Cohen: Joe Welch’s term as a member of the Historic Districts Commission, representing the Library, will expire on December 31, 2014. Mr. Welch has been a full member for the maximum two-term limit and cannot be reappointed without a one-year lapse. Pursuant to Section 4 of Chapter 447, Acts of 1956, the Selectmen request that two nominations be submitted to fill the position. Please send us a letter with your recommended nominee, including a resume from each nominee, at your earliest convenience. Do not hesitate to contact the Selectmen’s Office if you have any questions. Very truly yours, Lynne A. Pease Executive Clerk lap cc: K. Strembridge, Library Director AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY LEXINGTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING DATE: 12/15/14 PRESENTER: Joe Pato ITEM NUMBER: C.2-3 SUBJECT: Consent EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: 2. Approve the request of the Bicycle Advisory Committee to put 10 “lawn” fundraising signs along the Minuteman Bikeway for the duration of the winter. They are also requesting approval to put up to 9 smaller signs on the Bikeway on how to report hazards. 3. Approve the request of Revolutionary Revelry and Fife and Drum to hold the Fife and Drum Tattoo on May 1, 2015 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the Battle Green. They are also requesting permission to parade from Depot Square to the Battle Green at 7:00 p.m.. See attached information. FINANCIAL IMPACT: RECOMMENDATION / SUGGESTED MOTION: Motion to approve the Consent Agenda. STAFF FOLLOW-UP: Selectmen’s Office 1 Lynne Pease From:Peggy Enders Sent:Friday, December 05, 2014 4:37 PM To:Carl Valente Cc:Cathy Severance; Lynne Pease; Robert Hausslein Subject:LBAC Request for 2014-15 Bikeway Winter plowing signage Attachments:Bikeway Signs for Winter.jpg Dear Carl, I am writing to request that the Board of Selectmen approve again this year the request of the Bicycle Advisory Committee, working in collaboration with the Friends of Lexington Bikeways, to post 10 weather- resistant "lawn" signs along the town's 5.5 miles of the Minuteman Bikeway. We would also appreciate approval for a pilot project involving another wintertime Bikeway sign, as described in the 4th paragraph below. As you know, we have received approval for the past 3 years to post the fund-raising signs in order to encourage users to contribute to the fund that enables us to pay the contractor to plow the Bikeway each winter. Last year, I was told that the current plowing agreement that we have with the Town needn't be reviewed each year unless there was a change in the arrangement. I had thought this included the signs, but I was mistaken. We propose to leave the fund-raising signs up along the Bikeway for the duration of the winter, as we have done in past years. This year we would like to experiment with another wintertime sign along the Bikeway and would appreciate the approval of the Board of Selectmen to post a somewhat smaller sign that states, "Report Hazards: mmbikeway@gmail.com". We have been moved to undertake this experiment because many wintertime users want to alert others to icy or otherwise problematic conditions they have encountered, as well as to alert the Friends of the Bikeway to areas where ice may need to be chopped or small areas of snow need to be cleared off the Bikeway. Receiving alerts from users also gives us a chance to spread the word via various listservs devoted to winter bike conditions. We propose to post up to 9 such smaller signs on the Bikeway this winter as a pilot that would help us gauge the effectiveness of a user report system -- particularly when the users are otherwise not connected with the town or aware of bicycle listservs. I have attached an image of both signs for the Board's information (the larger sign is the one that has been approved each year; the smaller one is the pilot sign). thanks, Peggy Enders 1 Lynne Pease From:info@tourlexington.us Sent:Thursday, October 30, 2014 12:20 PM To:Lynne Pease Cc:Susan Rubenstein; Tanya Morrisett; Carl Valente; Cathy Severance Subject:Use of the Battle Green permit for Revolutionary Revelry event on May 1, 2015 Lynne: We are in the process of planning of 5th annual Revolutionary Revelry May 2015. Shortly I will be sending the initial special permit application to Cathy for the events which are already booked. As I had mentioned to Carl when we met this summer, we would welcome an opportunity to have the Fife and Drum Tattoo on the Lexington Battle Green. We have held it at the Minute Man National Park for the last 4 years. Bringing it back to Lexington Center will make it visible enough to draw people off the bike path and encourage attendees to visit our restaurants and shops which is the mission of Revolutionary Revelry. Below is the section from the application (yet to be filed) on this event. We would like to request the Use of the Battle Green for the event on May 1st from 7 - 8 pm with a small parade of the units from Depot Square to the Battle Green right at approximately 7 pm. Would you kindly ask the Selectmen to consider this request as soon as possible. If the Selectmen are not inclined we would have to make arrangements again with the Park. Let us know if you need any additional information. Thanks, Dawn May 1 Event Title: Fife & Drum Tattoo Event type: concert Time(s): 7 – 8 pm Estimated Attendance: #_150__ 2 Admission Fee: $_n/a___ Location:___Will gather in Depot Square at May Day event, and then parade together across street to_Lexington Battle Green at approximately 7 pm _________________ Committee event: Yes No If no, organization:_William Diamond Junior Fife & Drum Corps_ Set Up Time: ___4 pm___ Breakdown Time: 8:30 pm Tables #_____ Chairs #** see note______ Setup requirements: Sound system, if possible, two portable bleachers placed along Mass Ave side in area similar to Patriots Day placement, roping for musicians and crowd – detailed plan to be discussed with DPW Breakdown requirements: ___take equipment, breakdown roping, and remove bleachers Departmental Support Needed:_DPW and DPF, Permit requested from Board of Selectmen for use of the Battle Green, police crossing guard at Minute Man Statue Will food be served: Yes No Person in Charge: Susan Rubenstein (and Tanya Morrisett)___ Cell Phone: